The 2008-09 Campus Action Project (CAP) provides a platform to address some of the educational barriers faced by low income and minority girls and young women.

Eleven teams from around the country were selected to implement projects based on recommendations from the AAUW Educational Foundation research report Where the Girls Are: The Facts About Gender Equity in Education that was released in spring 2008. The selected projects focus on college preparation and readiness; promoting studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among women and girls; and encouraging young women to be leaders in their communities.

Congratulations to our two Pennsylvania winners!

Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

College Connections: A Partnership between Franklin & Marshall College and Columbia High School – This CAP team will pair 20 college students with 20 ninth graders in a low income/high minority population area. The main objectives of the mentoring program are to make the students aware of college as an option, let them know what college has to offer them, and help them if they decide they'd like to attend. Seven half-day sessions on campus on Saturdays are designed to help them understand more about college and college life.

University of Scranton, Scranton, PA

Women Open Doors: College students will give presentations at three local high schools (which serves a large number of students from rural, low-income, and minority families) on the college application process and other frequently asked questions about college. Then 50 high school sophomores will be recruited to participate in a mentoring program and will be paired with trained college students. The college students will continue to assist the high school students with college readiness preparation and accompany them on a day trip to the university. In the morning, the high school students will attend classes in their areas of academic interest and in the afternoon they will attend activities designed by organizations such as the Women’s Center and Multicultural Affairs Center.